Healthy Smiles Dentistry Blog

Patients occasionally show up in the office and report experiencing any one or more of these symptoms: dry throat, cracked lips at the corner of the mouth, hoarseness, always feeling thirsty and bad breath. Medication side effects and known medical conditions, both too numerous to mention, are are often the culprit. Dry Mouth is more than just uncomfortable and annoying because, saliva helps to wash away bacteria, thereby helping to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. A dry mouth damages teeth, and while you can’t always prevent Dry Mouth, you can mitigate the discomfort and limit the tooth decay. Wet your mouth without adding to the problem. Ditch the sucking candy and drinks that contain sugar. Do enjoy sugar-free sucking candy and gum. Look sporty and keep a water bottle with you, but don’t just drink. Sip, swish, swirl and then swallow. Swish the water around your mouth vigorously before you swallow. Limit the discomfort and damage Dry Mouth causes with sugar-free sucking candy or gum, frequent swish and sips of water, and the usual teeth saving advice: brush with a fluoride toothpaste, use a fluoride or antibacterial rinse, and see your dentist twice a year for a professional cleaning and oral...